Ron Birkelbach has joined HDR to lead Advanced Train Control Systems practice

Ron Birkelbach brings global advanced train control, systems integration and project management expertise to HDR.

Working from the Pittsburgh office, Birkelbach collaborates with clients and multidisciplinary teams to support the development and management of transit and rail systems projects in North America and other world venues.

“As new challenges arise in mass transit, it is our responsibility as consultants to develop new concepts and ideas to help our clients meet those needs,” said Birkelbach. “Our Advanced Train Control practice works with our clients to determine the best approach, control system architecture, and solutions to meet their needs for safe, cost-effective and efficient operations.”

Over the course of his 30-plus-year career, Birkelbach has developed deep expertise in transportation signaling and systems, systems/facilities integration and project management. Starting at a large system supplier, he worked with General Railway Signal (now Alstom) and spent many years in South Korea developing signaling and control systems for the Korean National Railway. He moved on to a signaling firm where he had the opportunity to work on major automated people mover systems for airports, including Miami DPM, Sea-Tac Airport APM, and Frankfurt Airport APM. Birkelbach also served as a systems integrator for the NJ Transit River Line and as chief engineer for a large CBTC urban rail transit project.

Prior to joining HDR, Birkelbach led the Americas region at a large signaling and turnkey systems supplier, responsible for projects in North and South America, Germany and the United Kingdom.

“Ron is a preeminent transportation systems specialist with a unique background in advanced train control and integrated project delivery,” said Rail and Transit Systems Director Rick Schmedes. “He has many years of experience with state-of-the art transit technologies and has developed a unique perspective from the supplier and consultant side of projects. Ron is applying his knowledge of managing systems aspects on several important transit projects and greatly strengthens our design and project management capabilities in the systems arena. In his relatively short time with HDR, Ron has already been engaged on the signature Ontario Line Subway Program in Toronto.”

Ron holds bachelor’s degrees in physics and music performance from Texas State University.